Tell Your Senators: Vote NO on the Laken Riley Act!

If enacted, this law would seriously infringe on our civil liberties and set a very dangerous precedent.

Jan 16, 2025

Apologies! The first version of this post went out without the link to the form embedded. Sorry for barraging your inbox!

Use This Form to Quickly Send a Letter to Each of Your Two Senators!

The above form is pre-populated with a letter that you can adjust and amend as you see fit! Just input your info. It only takes a couple of minutes!

Background

The embedded letter in the form pretty clearly explains why this (likely unconstitutional) law would be a disaster:

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen to strongly urge you to oppose the Laken Riley Act. This bill, if enacted, would undermine our nation’s core principles of justice, fairness, and equality. It is a direct assault on due process, fundamental rights, and the integrity of our legal and immigration systems.
First and foremost, this bill is a blatant threat to due process. It mandates the detention of any undocumented immigrant charged with a theft-related offense—including minor misdemeanors—without the opportunity for a bond or bail hearing. This applies even to individuals who have not been convicted, including minors, DACA recipients, and those awaiting green cards. Under this law, a mother charged with shoplifting diapers could be detained for the entirety of her deportation proceedings, unable to request a bond hearing. This is a draconian policy that punishes individuals without proving guilt, violating a cornerstone of American justice: the presumption of innocence.
Moreover, the bill would wreak havoc on our courts by giving any state the blanket authority to sue the federal government over an expansive range of immigration actions, regardless of legitimate interest. This provision would inundate federal courts with frivolous lawsuits, creating a chaotic backlog that obstructs justice and discourages meaningful immigration reform. By disincentivizing federal administrations from crafting innovative policies to address our immigration challenges, this bill threatens to paralyze progress for years to come.
In practice, the Laken Riley Act would sow fear across our communities, exacerbating racial profiling and marginalization. Black and Brown individuals, who are disproportionately arrested and charged in our justice system, would face the greatest harm. Meanwhile, private prison executives would stand to profit from the increased detention of individuals who pose no threat to public safety. This is not justice—it is exploitation.
Finally, the bill is a flagrant violation of fundamental rights. Prolonged detention without access to individualized bond hearings is an extreme measure that goes against the core principles of our legal system. While nearly all individuals in criminal courts are afforded bond hearings, this bill denies that right to immigrants based solely on an arrest or charge. Such a policy invites the prolonged detention of innocent people, compounding racial disparities in law enforcement and eroding public trust in our government.
The Laken Riley Act is not a solution to our immigration challenges; it is an unjust and destructive policy that undermines American values. I urge you to reject this harmful legislation and to instead champion reforms that respect due process, protect fundamental rights, and address immigration challenges in a humane and effective way.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I trust that you will stand on the side of justice and vote against the Laken Riley Act.